Today’s Tech Oligarchs Are Worse Than the Robber Barons
Yes, Jay Gould was a bad guy. But at least he helped build societal wealth. Not so our Silicon Valley overlords. And they have our politicians in their pockets. A decade ago these guys—and they are mostly guys—were folk heroes, and for many people, they remain so. They represented everything traditional business, from Wall Street and Hollywood […]
Pensions: How To Earn 7.8% for 20 Years But Be Short $100 Billion
Board members at CalPERS and other public pension funds often mislead citizens about the reasons for rising pension costs and worsening Funded Ratios (the ratio of pension liabilities to pension assets) but the principal reason is surging liabilities. In 1995 CalPERS reported a Funded Ratio of 96%. Over the next 20 years it earned a […]
Post Conventional Wisdom: The Dog Days of August?
While Hillary Clinton got a pronounced bounce from the Democratic convention, Donald Trump’s bounce from the GOP gathering is looking more like a splat. While Trump pulled about even in the polls with Hillary Clinton in the weekend between conventions, she pulled ahead after the Democratic convention and has stayed there. The GOP convention was […]
“Dave the Bear,” Media, and Raising Policy Issues
The headline in the San Francisco Chronicle discussing the Assembly Republicans’ effort to build awareness about lack of road and infrastructure improvements featuring a stuffed animal called “Dave the Bear” read: GOP’s ‘Dave the Bear’ shares name with burlesque dancer. Huh? The individual we are told in the article is a “popular” burlesque dancer based in […]
Why this Republican is Endorsing Hillary Clinton
I have been a Republican since I became a US Citizen in 1984 and was proud to vote for Ronald Reagan’s reelection. Eventually, I was given the incredible honor to be the United States Treasurer, the first Mexican-born to hold this title. I have been a loyal, trusted and fiery fighter for every Republican presidential […]
Sacramento Should Not Usurp Local Control
California is a vast state, with regions that vary greatly in needs and circumstance. From dense cities, to desert expanses and mountain ranges; from areas whose economy depends on technology or manufacturing, to communities that are driven by fishing or agriculture. This geographic and economic diversity is what makes California great. With such varied needs, […]
There’s a Better Way
The Legislature is back in session after a summer hiatus. They’ve come back to some daunting challenges, many of those of their own making. One of those challenges is what to do about California’s (in)famous Global Warming Solutions Act, otherwise known as AB32. One key piece is SB32 which, among other things seeks to extend […]
SB 1298 Is an Attack on Prop 218
Mike Lewis in his column published yesterday in Fox and Hounds makes numerous assertions that are simply not accurate. For starters, it is incorrect to say that SB 1298 is not an attack on Proposition 218. In fact, it would undermine one of the key provisions in Proposition 218, the right to vote on taxes […]
The Democratic Legislature’s Contribution To California Poverty
In the final days of the legislative session the Democratic leadership will do everything it can to increase poverty within California. That is the consequence of its fixation of fighting global climate change and saving the state’s faltering cap and trade program. These actions only add to poverty in California, a reality everyone knows and […]